Mail chute



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, G. A. BRIDGMAN 2,025,193

MAIL CHUTE Filed Sept. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Dec. 24, 1935. G. A. BRIDGMAN MAIL CHUTE Filed Sept. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 29- --& 41W,

Dec. 24, 1935. e. A. BRIDGMAN MAIL CHUTE Filed Sept. 26, 1934 4 Sheet-Sheet 3 29 avlllllllllp Z0 Dec. 24, 1935. G. A. BRIDGMAN MAIL CHUTE Filed Sept. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Dec. 24, 1935 PATENT ()FFKIE MAIL CHUTE George A. Bridgman, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Cutler Mail Chute 00., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 26, 1934, Serial No. 745,581

8 Claims.

My present invention relates to mail chutes and more particularly to chute installations of the type disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 718,230, filed March 30, 1934, and it has for its general object to improve upon that original conception by adding to the facility with which certain of the parts are applied in completing the enclosure. The improvements are directed in part toward the construction and mode of appli: cation of the plates constituting the back wall of the chute and toward the sealing of the front of the chute between floors. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a between floors chute constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention, with the upper flooring shown in vertical section, together with a fragment of the connecting installation on the floor above;

Fig. 2 is a very much enlarged front elevation, partly broken away, of the floor portion of the chute with fragments of adjoining sections and showing the upper base casting in vertical section and the lower ceiling piece with its cover plate removed, fragments of the surrounding flooring being also shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4' is a further enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a furtherenlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary section also taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2 showing the displaceable front panel applied, the same being omitted in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a further enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line l'i of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view taken from the front of one of the cross bars for joining front parts to the side channels;

Fig. 9 is a detail enlarged perspective view of an upper end fragment of the front plate at the floor line, viewed from the front;

Fig. 10 is a detail enlarged perspective view of the floor thimble plate, also viewed from the front;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lower end of one of the back plates viewed from the rear and on an intermediate scale;

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the upper end of the next lower adjoining plate, this view and that of Fig. 11 collectively illustrating the manner in which the back plate units cooperate with each other, and 5 Fig. 13 is a perspective view, enlarged, of a frag: ment of one of the side channels.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The general type of chute herein involved hav- 10 ing been fully described and claimed in my prior application aforesaid, it is here necessary to describe the general characteristics thereof only briefiy. Referring more particularly to the drawings l indicates side channels constituting lateral l5 inner and outer walls and which are of sturdy construction running continuously in sections of any convenient length through the building, floors and all, to the usual collection depository below. They are applied to the base wall 2 while the 20 building is under construction, openings, later filled in, being left in the flooring 3 for this purpose. Ultimately, the front of the chute is closed by upper and lower displaceable panels 4 and 5 framed in moldings that seat against inwardly projecting forward flanges 6 on the chamnels. The panels are interlocked at top and bottom with a ceiling piece 1 and a base 8, while they meet and are secured at an intermediate point by a key controlled locking bar 9. The lower 30 panel carries a letter drop In for the insertion of mail, and it will be understood that the unit described is repeated on each floor.

These side channels l I prefer to make of extruded metal and they are fastened to the wall, as shown in Fig. 4, through the medium of transverse straps I secured by screw bolts l2 and plugs I3. Inwardly turned rearward flanges I4 on the channels are screwed to the straps at l5, which. latter fit at their ends into the angles formed by these flanges. The facing of the base wall, indicated at It in Fig. 5, is later brought up to the outer faces of the side channels to make a finished inset installation, as indicated in Fig, 5.

All of the foregoing being done during the construction of the building itself and the back and front of the chute being applied later, including the floor line elements, the nature and mode of application of the back wall constitutes a feature of my present invention. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 11 and 12, this back wall is composed of a plurality of relatively thin spring plates ll, the lower end of one of which is shown in Fig. 11 and the upper end in Fig. 12, as aforesaid. The lateral edges of these plates, which are of convenient length for handling, are bent rearwardly at l8 and thence flanged inwardly to provide shoulders l9. The rearward flanges 1'4 of the side channels 1 are fitted with forwardly projecting suitably spaced lugs 20 having undercut shoulders 2i disposed outwardly laterally. Relatively divergent cam faces 22 on the lugs lead rearwardly toward the shoulders. The flanged shoulders 19 of the back plates interlock with these lug shoulders so that the plate stands out from the flanges l4 and provides sheds. at the corners in which letters or other light mail- 7 matter can not possibly wedge.

The plates are applied by simply springing them into place, as will be understood. The flanged shoulders I9 thereon slide down the cam faces of the lugs and finally snap into engagement with the shoulders 2|, the spring plate yielding and the lateral flanges I8 being capable of spreading sufficiently for this purpose. 7

After being thus attached, the individual back plates can slide in the grooved lugs during adjustment to their exact positions. At their top edges, the flanges I8 and.l9 are cut away at 23 and the plate bent to incline rearwardly at 24,

"so that the lower edge of the plate next above assembled and arranged largely through the medium of adjustable cross bars 25 appearing in Figs. 3 and and one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 8. This particular bar 25 has forwardly projecting threaded lugs 26, by means of which the base, casting B is secured thereto, and a pair of intermediate forward lugs 21 that figure in the floor line construction about to be described. The bifurcated ends of the bars slide between the forward flanges 6 of the side channels and are expanded by set screws 28'to hold them in their adjusted positions, as appears in Fig. 5.

Referring now additionally to Figs. 3, 9 and 10, the chute installation issealed with respect to the flooring 3 through the medium of a thimble plate 29, shown in detail in Fig. 10. This plate or thimble has side walls 30 terminating in flanges 3| at the rear that hook over the forward flange 6 of the. side channels I, while spot welded or otherwise secured to the front of the thimble are cross bars 32 having threaded projecting ends 33. Screws 34 carried in the latter react against the flanges 6 to tighten the flanges 3! against the latter and hence hold the thimble in place. This general relationship is established above the floor in applying the thimble and the screws 34 are tightened just so that the thimble may be slid with some difliculty in place at the floor line, as shown in Fig. 3. It is frictionally maintained there and when the flooring 3 is brought up to it, the cross bars 32 are imbedded in the cement, if such the floor be, as is usual, and the thimble is thereafter rigidly set in place.

The front of'the chute at and through the floor 7 line is formed and closed in a letter shedding :with the longer rearmost flange 6 of the side channels, as best shown in Fig. '7. The top edge 'isprovided with forwardly offset upwardly projecting eyes 38 which cooperate with and hang upon the previously described lugs 21 of cross bar 25 The plate is thus positively supported and the supporting engagement is maintained, together with definite close contact with the flanges of the side channels, by means of a transversely bowed tension plate 39, the lateral edges 5 of which press upon the engaging portions 31 of the front plate at 40 and the center of which reacts against the thimble 29. It is obvious that both the front plate and the tension plate may be slid into position from either above or below the floor 3 and removed in the same manner to clear a clog of mail at the floor line or for any purpose requiring accessibility of the interior of the chute at this point. When the panels 4-5 are removed, the cross bars 2525 can be removed and so on. The tension plate 39 being the key piece and properly removable first to relieve the pressure on the front plate, I provide eyes or openings Al in the upper edge of the tension plate which may be engaged with books or similar appropriate hand tools to facilitate its forcible withdrawal. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mail chute, the combination with a support and two separate side channels mounted fix- 2B edly thereon in spaced relationship and having a connecting closure at the front, one side channel being provided with an inwardly projecting rearward portion having an undercut shoulder, of a back plate having a complementary shoulder on one edge adapted to be sprung into interlocking engagement with the shoulder of the said rearward portion and constitute a letter shedding joint in connection with the contiguous side channel wall, and means for securing the other edge of the plate to the other rearward portion.

2. In a mail chute, the combination with a support and two separate side channels mounted fixedly thereon in spaced relationship and. having .a connecting closure at the front, one side chan- 40 nel being provided with an inwardly projecting rearward flange having a forwardly extending projection thereon provided with an undercut shoulder and a cam surface leading thereto, of a back plate provided with a complementary shoulder on one edge formed by a rearwardly and thence inwardly turned flange adapted to traverse the cam and to be sprung into interlocking engagement with the shoulder of the said rearward portion and constitute a letter shedding joint in connection with the contiguous side channel wall, and means for securing the other edge of the plate to the rearward portion of the other side channel.

3. In a mail chute, the combination with a 86 support, two continuous side channels mounted thereon in spaced relationship and a continuous but separate back connecting the channels at the rear, the front edges of the side channels being provided each with a pair of inwardly turned so flanges, of a floor section embodying a detachable plate connecting the side channels at the front and cooperating with the rearward flanges thereof to constitute a letter shed and. completing a closed letter conveying passage, a fixed plate in- 65 terlocked with the forward flanges and adapted to be imbedded in the flooring material, and a tensioning plate engaging the first mentioned plate to hold it in place and reacting against the fixed plate.

4. In a mail chute, the combination with a support, two continuous side channels mounted thereon in spaced relationship and a continuous but separate back connecting the channels at the rear, the front edges of the side channels be- 7 ing provided each with a pair of inwardly turned flanges, of a floor section embodying a detachable plate connecting the side channels at the front and cooperating with the rearward flanges thereof to constitute a letter shed and completing a closed letter conveying passage, a fixed plate interlocked with the forward flanges and adapted to be imbedded in the flooring material, said fixed plate being provided with set screws engaging the opposite sides of the forward flanges whereby it can be initially slid into place under regulated friction, and a tensioning plate engaging the first mentioned plate to hold it in place and. reacting against the fixed plate.

5. In a mail chute, the combination with a building embodying a wall support and a floor having an opening therein, of a pair of spaced continuous side channels mounted on the Wall support and extending through the floor, a thimble cooperating with the side channels to space them from the floor .at the front, a plate connecting the side channels at the front to complete a letter shedding passage at the floor level and independently removable at one side of the floor, adjustable cross bars connecting the side channels above the plate and provided with rearward lugs, the plate being provided with eyes at its top interlocking with said lugs, and displaceable panels closing the front of the chute between the side channels above and below the floor.

6. In a mail chute, the combination with a support and two separate side channel's mounted fixedly thereon in spaced relationship and having a connecting closure at the front, of a separate back for the chute embodying a plurality of jointed spring plates cooperating with one another to constitute a letter shed on the interior of the chute and sprung into engagement with the side channels.

7. In a mail chute, the combination with a support and. two separate side channels mounted fixedly thereon in spaced relationship and having a connecting closure at the front, of a separate back for the chute embodying a plurality of jointed spring plates cooperating with one another to constitute a letter shed on the interior of the chute and sprung into engagement with the side channels, said plates also being slidable vertically on the side channels for purposes of assembly.

8. In a mail chute, the combination with a support and two separate side channels mounted fixedly thereon in spaced relationship and having a connecting closure at the front, said channels being provided each with rearward inwardly projecting flanges, of a plurality of jointed spring back plates cooperating with one another to constitute a letter shed and sprung into engagement with the side inwardly projecting flanges of the channels to also constitute a letter shed in connection with the contiguous side channel walls.

GEORGE A. BRIDGMAN. 

